Dorothy Jordan of the Irish Eyes Who Captured the Duke of Clarence Who Became William IV
[By me Banowrss Once WHO "heroine" of this story was authentic. There is little poetry to captivate the bluff sailor Prince of England, fan actress whose very name is not in her story, though she contrived who afterwards became William IV
Dorothy Phillips was born in a squalid lodging-house in Dublin. Her mother, who went by the name of Mrs, Francis, was also an actress, playing minor parts in travelling shows.
Hier father was a stage-hand named Bland, who pi sed himself off as an Army captain. It seems doubtful whether "the Captain" was ever aware of his daughter's existence. the child grew up into a remarkably beautiful girl, with Irish blue eyes, dark hair and an exquisite figure, Her native wit and musical rogue brought her into prominence among the rest of the wandering theatrical troupe, and, through the influence of the Teading lady, she received, when only fifteen, an introduction to the manager of the princelpal theatre in. Dublin, From him she obtained an engagement to play the part of Phoebe in As You Like Tt" But it was at the cost of becoming his mistress, and bore him a daughter within the ye From that time, the beautiful Dorothy seems to have cast all moral restraint overboard, Full of fun, utterly thoughtless, a veritable charmer, she presently went over to England, joined a touring company and acted different towns in the north.
Finally, she scored a great success at Leeds in the role of Lady Teazle. ere, the wealthy and middle-aged Sir Richard Fordfather of—that Richard Ford whose "Handbook for Travellers in Spain" is still a stand~ ard work—saw the beautiful young Bil for the frst time, Success In Londor She ogled him from the stage, and ho instantly fell a victim to' her charms, Dorothy accepted his tentions, his presents, his mon lived with him as" his mistress, called hersel€ shamelessly "Lady: Ford", and bore her elderly lover four children, But nether for him nor, later, for a more august pleader, would she give up her brilliant stage career—probably the only thing in Ife she ever truly loved.
Thanks to the protection of her new patron, she secured an engage ment to play Peggy in "A Country Girl" at Drury Lane. Her success there was instant and unprecedented. She took London by storm. At the height of her artistic triumph, she calmly exchanged her elderly lover for the young sailor who was later to sit on the English throne.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.